National and State Parks in West Virginia
Parks in West Virginia offer river gorges, forested ridges, waterfalls and places where industrial history remains visible in the landscape. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a starting point for viewpoints, walking and river activities, with state parks adding other settings for a longer stay.
Use the map and listing to compare national and state parks in West Virginia by region. Choose a gorge-focused trip, a waterfall weekend around Davis or an overnight woodland base, then plan the route around the activity you most want to do.
How many parks in West Virginia you can find on Traveler Map?
- national historical park: 1
- national park: 1
- national recreation areas: 2
- National Park Service sites: 3
- state parks: 37
New River Gorge has several places to begin
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is West Virginia’s park with the formal National Park designation. It covers a long river landscape, so choose an actual access area instead of navigating only to a general park marker.
Canyon Rim offers a starting point for bridge views, while Grandview, Sandstone Falls and historical places elsewhere in the park provide different experiences. Select one main walk or activity and allow time to reach it.
The official New River Gorge trip planner suggests visits of different lengths. A scenic viewpoint stop and a booked rafting trip need very different schedules and preparation.
State parks for waterfalls and a longer base
Blackwater Falls State Park near Davis offers waterfall scenery, trails and several types of overnight accommodation. Choose the walk and viewpoint that suit your group, then decide whether a cabin, campsite or lodge stay fits the wider trip.
The official Blackwater Falls guide provides current park information and accommodation choices. Seasonal services may differ even where the landscape remains accessible.
Babcock State Park offers another setting, known for Glade Creek Grist Mill and the surrounding wooded landscape. The mill is a working replica, not an unchanged original building. Give the park time for a walk as well as a stop beside the mill; use the Babcock visitor information to plan the stay.
Other federal sites have different designations
Gauley River National Recreation Area, Bluestone National Scenic River and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park offer different reasons to travel. They are part of the wider national park system, but they are not additional parks with the National Park designation.
The NPS West Virginia directory identifies their locations and visitor information. Choose a destination by the experience rather than the label alone.
Allow for roads as well as trails
For a weekend, stay near the New River Gorge area or choose a different focused region, such as the Davis area. Mountain roads and separate access points can make a collection of nearby-looking stops take longer than expected.
For river activities, confirm the section, conditions and what the booking includes. For walks, compare the return climb and surface with your group’s needs. Book the accommodation or activity that anchors the trip, leaving shorter outings flexible if weather changes the day.